EP1248306A2 - Procédé pour fabriquer un séparateur de batterie, le séparateur de batterie et batterie alcaline l'utilisant - Google Patents

Procédé pour fabriquer un séparateur de batterie, le séparateur de batterie et batterie alcaline l'utilisant Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1248306A2
EP1248306A2 EP20020007258 EP02007258A EP1248306A2 EP 1248306 A2 EP1248306 A2 EP 1248306A2 EP 20020007258 EP20020007258 EP 20020007258 EP 02007258 A EP02007258 A EP 02007258A EP 1248306 A2 EP1248306 A2 EP 1248306A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
separator
woven cloth
batteries
fiber
sulfonation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP20020007258
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1248306A3 (fr
Inventor
Isao Matsumoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1248306A2 publication Critical patent/EP1248306A2/fr
Publication of EP1248306A3 publication Critical patent/EP1248306A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/24—Alkaline accumulators
    • H01M10/30—Nickel accumulators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/24—Alkaline accumulators
    • H01M10/28—Construction or manufacture
    • H01M10/281—Large cells or batteries with stacks of plate-like electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/34—Gastight accumulators
    • H01M10/345—Gastight metal hydride accumulators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40—Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • H01M50/403—Manufacturing processes of separators, membranes or diaphragms
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40—Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • H01M50/409—Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by the material
    • H01M50/411—Organic material
    • H01M50/414—Synthetic resins, e.g. thermoplastics or thermosetting resins
    • H01M50/417—Polyolefins
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40—Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • H01M50/409—Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by the material
    • H01M50/44—Fibrous material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40—Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • H01M50/489—Separators, membranes, diaphragms or spacing elements inside the cells, characterised by their physical properties, e.g. swelling degree, hydrophilicity or shut down properties
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40—Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • H01M50/489—Separators, membranes, diaphragms or spacing elements inside the cells, characterised by their physical properties, e.g. swelling degree, hydrophilicity or shut down properties
    • H01M50/491—Porosity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/40—Separators; Membranes; Diaphragms; Spacing elements inside cells
    • H01M50/489—Separators, membranes, diaphragms or spacing elements inside the cells, characterised by their physical properties, e.g. swelling degree, hydrophilicity or shut down properties
    • H01M50/494—Tensile strength
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/543—Terminals
    • H01M50/552—Terminals characterised by their shape
    • H01M50/559—Terminals adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round, elliptic or button cells
    • H01M50/56—Cup shaped terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2300/00—Electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0002—Aqueous electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0014—Alkaline electrolytes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the improved separator for alkaline storage batteries and the high powered alkaline storage batteries using the same.
  • Ni/Cd batteries nickel cadmium batteries
  • Ni/Cd batteries have been developed remarkably as secondary batteries which represent alkaline storage batteries with the expansion of the use of small-sized secondary power source, including in such fields as home electric, communications, office tools, sundries use, or the like, since around the year 1970.
  • having a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode instead of having a cadmium electrode is developed newly, and these nickel-metal hydride storage batteries have been exceeding the Ni/Cd batteries in production and sales amount as a new power source for portable electronic devices with lithium secondary batteries in recent years.
  • the use as the said power source for mobile use requires high power among the characteristics which are necessary for general use. Further, it is also required to have high reliability and high energy density (small sized and light weighted).
  • alkaline storage batteries are capable of showing these characteristics relatively strongly, they are drawing attention as candidates of power source for mobile use.
  • Ni/MH batteries among alkaline storage batteries have already been equipped with mass produced HEVs and have been drawing the greatest attention with the reason that they have the image of using clean materials and have high energy density.
  • Ni/MH batteries in particular, sealed cylindrical Ni/MH batteries as an example.
  • Ni/MH batteries like Ni/Cd batteries, belong to alkaline storage batteries of 1.2 V systems and have relatively high energy density and high reliability.
  • Ni/MH batteries are slightly inferior to Ni/Cd batteries in high power. Therefore, Ni/MH batteries have some problems to decrease the feature of high energy density which is the characteristic inherent to these batteries as a result of volume increase of both positive and negative electrodes' substrate and separators when the batteries are so constructed as to show high power by employing thin and long positive and negative electrodes.
  • high energy density Ni/MH batteries do not have satis factory high power characteristics. Therefore, the improvement of high power characteristics is strongly desired.
  • the separators used for the batteries with high power use it is regarded as important that the separators should have the characteristics of low impedance and high reliability, while meeting the above described requirements.
  • the separators with high reliability of preventing short circuit can be developed, by making separators much more thinner, the concerned extreme decrease of the energy density can be prevented even though the positive and negative electrodes are processed to be thin and long for high power use.
  • non-woven separators which comprise polyamide type resin fibers as materials for separators in mass produced Ni/Cd batteries were used, mainly in sealed cylindrical Ni/Cd batteries, and the separators using this resin fiber are currently used.
  • polyolefin type separator is generally not easy to get wet with aqueous solution, in other words, is hydrophobic. Therefore, polyolefin type separator requires treatment for providing hydrophilic property. Therefore, the following hydrophilic treatments have been already adopted industrially.
  • the method 3) is the most excellent in providing hydrophilic property stably.
  • the non-woven separator is prepared by entangling the said polyolefin type resin fiber, in particular, the core-sheath type polyolefin type resin fiber whose core consists of polypropylene type resin and whose surface consists of polyethylene type resin.
  • the degree of sulfonation which is defined as the number of sulfur atoms (S) to the number of carbon atoms (C) in polyolefin resin, is not more than 3 ⁇ 10 -3 to 5 ⁇ 10 -3 with the method of immersing the non-woven cloth which comprises the usually used polyolefin type resin fiber having the diameter of about 10 ⁇ m into concentrated sulfuric acid at a high temperature or fuming sulfuric acid. This is because the necessary strength cannot be obtained in constructing spirally wound plates of the battery. This result is brought about by the extreme decrease in physical strength of the fiber itself.
  • the inner impedance in the conventional AA sized battery structure using the conventional sulfonated separator is 8 to 10m ⁇ but the results have been obtained that the inner impedance in the battery structure substituting only the said conventional sulfonated separator with the separator merely reacting with SO 3 gas with other conditions being equal increased to 10 to 13m ⁇ .
  • Non-woven cloth comprising sulfonated polyolefin type resin fiber is an extremely important material for high power use or as a separator of Ni/MH batteries for high rate discharge at a high temperature.
  • the conventional method has its limit of the increase in the degree of sulfonation, said increase is performed by providing further hydrophilic property necessary for high power use.
  • the conventional method of processing with concentrated sulfuric acid or fumed sulfuric acid has the problem to be solved of causing the decrease in physical strength of the fiber, leading separators to break in constructing spirally wound electrodes. Therefore, sulfonation by SO 3 gas which can inhibit the decrease in strength draws attention.
  • just to react with SO 3 gas only makes partial progress of sulfonation on the fiber surface and the uniform sulfonation as a whole is hard to be achieved. Further, the problem that the impedance within the battery increases on the contrary arises.
  • the present invention provides the process for producing the separator and the separator capable of solving the said problem of partial reactions, capable of producing the separator of polyolefin type resin fiber which can realize the introduction of hydrophilic group e.g. sulfonation on the surface of non-woven cloth evenly and the said separator has highly hydrophilic property with much higher degree of sulfonation of the non-woven cloth as a whole compared with the conventional separators.
  • the said separators further have strength capable of resisting the tensile force necessary in constructing spirally wound electrodes of the batteries. This purpose is achieved by taking the following steps; As a preliminary treatment process, non-woven cloth is passed through the nearly saturated airflow of water vapor which is immediately followed by the process of making the said cloth pass through the airflow which contains SO 3 gas.
  • the other purpose of the present invention is to provide batteries excellent in high power characteristics, which is essential in Ni/MH batteries for power source for mobile use as well as in batteries for conventional use by applying the said separators.
  • sulfonation of a non-woven cloth which comprises fine spun polyolefin resin fibers whose diameter is not greater than 5 ⁇ m considered to be capable of realizing a thinner separator because of high reliability as a separator was also realized.
  • the separator is made of a fine spun fiber, it has a larger superficial area and sulfonation can be enhanced further.
  • the other purpose of the present invention is to provide Ni/MH batteries with high reliability and high energy density as well as with further improvement in high power characteristics by using this thin separator.
  • liquid retention property which means hydrophilic property substantially is enhanced further than the conventional separators by increasing the degree of sulfonation of the non-woven cloth as a separator which comprises polyolefin type resin fiber.
  • the separator of the present invention consisting of the non-woven cloth which comprises the polyolefin typed resin fiber sulfonated improves the degree of sulfonation without reducing the strength of the fiber itself, and the improvement of sulfonation is achieved by modifying the time of making the non-woven cloth pass through SO 3 gas airflow.
  • the degree of sulfonation is represented by the ratio of the mass of the element of sulfur to the mass of the element of carbon (S/C) in foundation cloth comprising a separator, and the said ratio may be the ratio of the number of sulfur atom to the number of carbon atom or the ratio of the number of moles of sulfur atom to the number of moles of carbon atom.
  • the non-woven cloth which comprises fine spun polyolefin type resin fiber has much larger superficial area than the conventional one, the degree of sulfonation of the non-woven cloth with fine spun polyolefin type resin can be improved by further more carrying out the same process, maintaining the same strength of the fiber itself.
  • the sealed cylindrical (and sealed prismatic) Ni/MH batteries using the sulfonated separator with the improved degree of sulfonation for multi purpose have excellent high power characteristics, that is, the characteristics of inhibiting the drop of voltage at the time of high rate discharge.
  • the non-woven cloth which comprises the said fine spun fiber with further sulfonation it can be suitable for further high power use.
  • the thinner separator contributes to obtaining the sealed cylindrical (and sealed prismatic) Ni/MH batteries suitable for high power use without lowering the energy density.
  • the average diameter is not greater than 5 ⁇ m.
  • Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a sulfonated polyolefin separator by an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a sulfonated polyolefin separator by an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a sectional view taken along a line B-B in Fig.1.
  • Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a sectional view taken along a line C-C in Fig.1.
  • Fig. 5 shows a processing device for sulfonation of the non-woven cloth which comprises polyolefin resin fiber by an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 shows sealed cylindrical Ni/MH batteries (AA size) by an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig.7 shows the relation between the degree of sulfonation and the tensile strength in a separator by an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig.8 shows a high rate discharge of sealed cylindrical Ni/MH batteries by an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the process for producing a separator of the present invention has the steps of exposing the non-woven cloth to the airflow with nearly saturated moisture, thereafter immediately exposing the said non-woven cloth to the airflow of the SO 3 gas containing SO 3 gas mainly as shown in Fig.5 in order to conduct sulfonation uniformly on the fiber surface without decrease in the fiber strength.
  • the present invention has realized the sulfonation on the fiber surface uniformly by conducting the step of exposing the non-woven cloth to water vapor airflow.
  • the humidity of the water vapor airflow with the nearly saturated moisture in the process for producing separator of the present invention is preferably not less than about 80%.
  • the humidity is not less than about 80%, it is advantageous from the viewpoint of processing because there is time to conduct the steps flexibly between the step of exposing the non-woven cloth to the water vapor airflow with nearly saturated moisture and the step of exposing the non-woven cloth to SO 3 gas airflow.
  • the water vapor airflow with the nearly saturated moisture has the temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin type resin fiber whose melting point is the lowest among the components comprising the non-woven cloth.
  • the thickness is rearranged to the desired thickness by making the surface of separator flat with the roll press work which is conducted with the calendar rolls or the like at 60 to 90 °C for preventing the piling of the fiber.
  • the porosity of the separator of the present invention may be relatively large. However, when the porosity exceeds about 70 vol %, the tensile strength of the non-woven cloth made of general polyolefin type fiber greatly lowers before sulfonation. Therefore, the porosity is preferably not greater than 70 vol %. On the other hand, when the porosity is not greater than 50 vol %, it gets difficult for the oxygen gas generated on the positive electrode to move into the negative electrode at the time of over-charging, while the dividing capability as the separator is enhanced. As a result, it cannot withstand the rise of the gas pressure by a rapid charge. Therefore, the porosity is preferably not less than about 50 vol %.
  • the concentration of SO 3 gas in the said SO 3 gas airflow is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 10% and the remaining SO 3 gas after the sulfonation reaction is preferably recycled in order and adjusted in the said concentration range.
  • concentration is less than 0.5 %, it takes too much time in sulfonation, therefore, it is not preferable.
  • concentration exceeds 10 %, it takes too little time in sulfonation, which leads to the difficulty in controlling the sulfonation all over the non-woven cloth uniformly. Therefore, it is not preferable, either.
  • the electrodes comprise the nickel positive electrode mainly comprising conventional nickel hydroxide powder and the alloy negative electrode mainly comprising AB 5 type hydrogen absorbing alloy powder interposing the separator with the non-woven cloth consisting of polyolefin type resin fiber sulfonated therebetween.
  • the said electrodes are inserted into the cylindrical metal case with one side opened, in which alkaline electrolyte is poured, thereafter sealed by the cap, thereby obtaining the sealed cylindrical nickel hydrogen storage batteries.
  • the thickness of the electrode of 0.6 to 0.8 mm is made thinner to 0.5 to 0.6 mm, and the elongation of the electrodes and separators accordingly is also attempted.
  • the separator with the same thickness is used, as a result that the volume of the separator occupying in the batteries increases with the elongation, the battery capacity extremely decreases. Therefore, microscopic short circuit has been liable to occur when the separators are made thinner.
  • the present invention highly reliable battery is obtained as in the conventional battery even though its thickness at the positive electrode is 0.3 to 0.5mm and the targeted further improvement of high power characterietics is available.
  • the uniform and high degree of sulfonation of the thin type fine spun polyolefin resin fiber can be achieved without causing any decrease in the physical strength, which has been difficult to achieve with the sulfonation method using the conventional concentrated sulfuric acid or simply processing with SO 3 gas.
  • the present invention can not only make a conventional polyolefin resin fiber the uniform and high degree of sulfonation, but also make a conventional general-purpose batteries used with the separator of this invention high powered.
  • Figs.1 and 2 show examples of the non-woven cloth comprising polyolefin type resin fiber which comprises the sulfonated non-woven cloth with the bundle of fine spun fibers entangled and the sulfonated non-woven cloth with the core-sheath type fibers entangled, respectively.
  • Sulfonation is concentrated in the vicinity of the surface of each fiber, and is conducted uniformly and the degree of sulfonation is 5 ⁇ 10 -3 to 30 ⁇ 10 -3 , much higher rate compared with that of the separator for multi-purpose of about 3 ⁇ 10 -3 . Since sulfonation concentrates in the vicinity of the surface of each fiber, the resin in the fiber remains intact without being sulfonated.
  • the separators shown in Figs. 1 and 2 retain much electrolyte without variation and decrease the inner impedance in the battery since the degree of sulfonation is high.
  • the impedance in the AA sized battery structure becomes 3 to 6m ⁇ , much lower than 8 to 10 m ⁇ , the value obtained when conventional sulfonated separators are used.
  • sulfonation can be conducted by processing with the SO 3 gas airflow including SO 3 gas as sulfuric compound or sulfonation group can be added in the vicinity of the fiber surface by the process of SO 3 gas airflow including at least SO 3 gas in the air or inert gases.
  • this processing may be conducted by adding a little amount of fluorine gas or carbon dioxide gas in the airflow because the separator with sulfo group substituted for the functional group in which the fluorine atom is substituted for the oxygen atom in the elements comprising sulfo group and the functional group in which the carbonate ion is added to sulfo group is provided with hydrophilic group and shows the property similar to the separator with sulfo group introduced in the vicinity of the fiber surface.
  • HF gas whose concentration is not greater than 1% and/or CO 2 gas whose concentration is not greater than 1% may be contained in the said SO 3 gas airflow wherein at least SO 3 gas is contained in the said SO 3 gas airflow.
  • the concentration of the said HF gas exceeds 1%, the fiber itself gets fluorinated too much and the hydrophilic property deteriorates.
  • CO 2 gas works against sulfonation.
  • the separator shown in Fig.1 Since the separator has a configuration wherein the bundle of the fine spun fiber of at least two different polyolefin type resins is bound at the entangled part, this separator has the superficial area three to four times as large as that of the separator shown in Fig.2 and has more uniform and thinner space than the separator shown in Fig.2. Therefore, the separator shown in Fig.1 is excellent in capability as a separator and at the same time, much higher degree of sulfonation can be realized. Therefore, the separator shown in Fig.1 is suitable for batteries with higher power required, since the separator shown in Fig.1 has more excellent capability as a separator and higher degree of sulfonation compared with the separator shown in Fig.2.
  • the separator shown in Fig.1 is excellent in capability as a separator and has high reliability, no problem occurs in the case that the thickness of the separator is made thinner to about 80 ⁇ m, thinner than the conventional separator with the thickness of about 150 ⁇ m. As a result, the space between the positive electrode and the negative electrode can be narrowed, thereby capable of reducing the internal resistance in the battery. Since the thinning of the separator naturally makes the volume of the separator which occupies in the battery smaller, this also contributes to the high capacity of the battery, and when this is applied to the AA sized Ni/MH batteries, the capacity increases by about 5% by calculation.
  • the extreme decrease in capacity can be prevented by using this thin and highly reliable separator, and further, the decrease on the capacity of the batteries for high power use can be inhibited.
  • the battery case can whose side wall is thinner than that of the conventional battery case can.
  • the thickness of the side wall of about 0.25mm generally used for AA sized battery case can 0.15mm
  • the volume in the battery increases by about 4%.
  • the secondary effect from the view point of cost effectiveness of the batteries can be achieved since instead of an expensive three-dimensional mesh type electrode support medium, that is, an electrode substrate, a simple and low cost electrode substrate which is nothing but an electrode substrate in which a metal foil is mechanically processed unevenly, or a simple and low cost electrode substrate obtained by conducting an electrolysis deposition to produce a similar configuration by an electrolytic process can be used.
  • the separator of the present invention the internal impedance of the battery caused by the separator can be greatly reduced, and high rate discharge characteristics (high power characteristics) can be remarkably improved.
  • the thin type separator with high degree of sulfonation which comprises fine spun polyolefin resin fiber, the increase rather than decrease of the battery capacity can be expected by combining the metal cylindrical battery case whose side wall is thin even when the said thin electrode for high power use is used. Further, since the employment of low cost electrode base material is realized in accordance with the thin electrode, the cost effect of the battery can also be realized.
  • Fig.1 of the present invention shows an example wherein the bundle of fine spun fiber is divided into 8 portions as shown in Fig.3, however, the fine spun fiber may be divided into more than 8 portions.
  • Fig.1 also shows taking two types of polyolefin resins whose sectional views are substantial triangles as an example, however, more polyolefin type resins or these resins with different degree of polymerization may be present. In such cases, it is preferable to present materials further excellent in mechanical strength.
  • sealed cylindrical Ni/MH storage batteries As an example. Based on the similar principle, the present invention can be applied to sealed prismatic Ni/MH storage batteries. Further, based on the similar principle, the present invention can easily be applied to sealed cylindrical or prismatic Ni/Cd batteries, or larger size prismatic Ni/Cd storage batteries.
  • the paste which comprises commercially available spherical type nickel hydroxide powder whose average diameter is about 15 ⁇ m and a small amount of fluorine plastic powder and conductive material powders was coated on the nickel foil with the thickness of 30 ⁇ m having innumerable concaves and convexes by a known method and was pressed after drying by a known method, thereby obtaining a positive electrode with the thickness of 400 ⁇ m.
  • This electrode was made into a size of 40mm in width and 170 mm in length by cutting and the thin and long positive electrode with the volume of about 1700 mA in theory was produced.
  • the positive electrode was produced by the similar method as in production method of the positive electrode 1, with the exception that the foamed metal type positive electrode for multi purpose with the thickness of 0.7mm was used and was made into a size of 40mm in width and 85 mm in length by cutting.
  • the water solution paste which comprises commercially available AB 5 type hydrogen absorbing alloy whose average diameter is about 10 ⁇ m was coated on the nickel foil with the thickness of 30 ⁇ m having innumerable concaves and convexes by a known method and was pressed after drying by a known method, thereby obtaining a negative electrode with the thickness of 240 ⁇ m.
  • This electrode was made into a size of 40mm in width and 230 mm in length by cutting and the negative electrode with the volume of about 2400 mA in theory was produced.
  • the negative electrode was produced by the similar method as in production method of the negative electrode 1, with the exception that the paste type hydrogen absorbing alloy for multi purpose with the thickness of 0.35mm was used and was made into a size of 40mm in width and 140 mm in length by cutting.
  • Polyolefin fibers and polyethylene fibers as shown in Fig.3 are integrated into a focusing fiber that can be divided into 8 as fine spun fibers in a way that the respective fibers which contact with one another are bonded by fusion at contacting portions and the crossing parts of fibers (diameter:10 ⁇ m) with polyolefin fibers and polyethylene fibers as fine spun fibers alternatively arranged in the circumferential direction of the sectional view in the focusing fibers are entangled by a polyethylene whose melting point is low thereby obtaining a non-woven cloth with the average thickness of 100 ⁇ m, porosity of 60% and tensile strength of 6.2 kg/cm 2 .
  • the wide belt-like finalized non-woven cloth was exposed to the atmosphere in the water vapor bath with the moisture of about 95% and the temperature of about 70 °C shown in 12 of Fig.5 for 10 seconds, thereafter sulfonated by immediately putting the non-woven cloth into a bath for sulfonation treatment shown in 13 of Fig.13 and by exposing the cloth to about 3 wt % of SO 3 gas airflow at the temperature of 50 °C for 20 seconds, followed by washing the sulfonated non-woven cloth with water and drying, thereby obtaining the separator whose finalized thickness of 70 to 80 ⁇ m with the degree of sulfonation of about 20 ⁇ 10 -3 .
  • the thickness of the separator was adjusted to be 70 to 80 ⁇ m uniformly through a hot roll, thereby remaking the surface flat.
  • Separators with the degree of sulfonation of 15 ⁇ 10 -3 , 10 ⁇ 10 -3 and 5 ⁇ 10 -3 respectively were obtained by the same method as in Example 1 except that the non-woven cloth comprising a core-sheath type polyolefin fiber for multi purpose whose diameter is about 9mm was used and the time for exposure to about 3 wt % of SO 3 gas airflow with the temperature of 50°C was adjusted in order to obtain desired degree of sulfonation.
  • Separators with the degree of sulfonation of about 20 ⁇ 10 -3 and the finalized thickness is 100 to 120 ⁇ m, with the degree of sulfonation of about 20 ⁇ 10 -3 and the finalized thickness is 140 to 160 ⁇ m, and with the degree of sulfonation of about 20 ⁇ 10 -3 and the finalized thickness is 200 to 220 ⁇ m, respectively, were obtained by the same method as in Example 1 except that only the non-woven cloth was made thick, while the porosity was kept about 60 vol%.
  • Separators with the degree of sulfonation of 3 ⁇ 10 -3 and the thickness is 100 to 120 ⁇ m, with the degree of sulfonation of 3 ⁇ 10 -3 and the thickness is 140 to 160 ⁇ m, and with the degree of sulfonation of 3 ⁇ 10 -3 and the thickness is 200 to 220 ⁇ m, respectively, were obtained by the same method as in Example 1 except that the thickness of the non-woven cloth was made to be 70-80 ⁇ m, 100-120 ⁇ m, 140-160 ⁇ m, 200-220 ⁇ m, respectively, and the time for exposure to about 3 wt % of SO 3 gas airflow with the temperature of 50°C was adjusted.
  • Separators with the degree of sulfonation of about 10 ⁇ 10 -3 were obtained by the same method as in Example 1 except that the non-woven cloth with the porosity of about 60 vol % comprising the core-sheath type polyolefin fiber for multi-purpose whose diameter is about 9 mm and the thickness of 120 ⁇ m was used, and the said non-woven cloth was exposed to about 3wt% of SO 3 gas airflow with the temperature of 50°C for 12 seconds.
  • Separators with the degree of sulfonation of about 20 ⁇ 10 -3 and the finalized thickness is 80 to 100 ⁇ m, with the degree of sulfonation of about 20 ⁇ 10 -3 and the finalized thickness is 140 to 160 ⁇ m, and with the degree of sulfonation of about 20 ⁇ 10 -3 and the finalized thickness is 200 to 220 ⁇ m, respectively, were obtained by the same method as in Example 1 except that only the non-woven cloth was made thick, while the porosity was kept about 60 vol%.
  • the non-woven cloth used in the Example 1 was sulfonated by the conventional method of using concentrated sulfuric acid with high temperature, which was conducted by immersing the non-woven cloth in 96 wt% of concentrated sulfuric acid heated at about 100°C and thereafter eliminating residual SO 4 2- by making the concentration of sulfuric acid shift to lower concentration in order to avoid sudden heat generation caused by hydration heat, followed by rinsing the sulfonated non-woven cloth, thereafter drying, thereby obtaining a separator with the degree of sulfonation of 3 ⁇ 10 -3 .
  • the non-woven cloth comprising a core-sheath type polyolefin fiber for multi-purpose with the fiber diameter of about 9mm and with the thickness of 70 to 80 ⁇ m was used and sulfonated by the conventional method of using concentrated sulfuric acid with high temperature, that is, immersing the non-woven cloth in 96 wt% of concentrated sulfuric acid heated at about 100°C and eliminating residual SO 4 2- by making the concentration of sulfuric acid shift to lower concentration in order to avoid sudden heat generation caused by hydration heat, followed by rinsing the sulfonated non-woven cloth, thereafter drying, thereby obtaining a separator with the degree of sulfonation of 3 ⁇ 10 -3 , 4 ⁇ 10 -3 , and 7 ⁇ 10 -3 .
  • Separators with the degree of sulfonation of 3 ⁇ 10 -3 and the thickness of 100 to 120 ⁇ m, 140 to 160 ⁇ m, 200 to 220 ⁇ m, respectively, were obtained by the same method as in the Comparative Example 3 except that only the thickness of non-woven cloth was made 70 to 80 ⁇ m, 100 to 120 ⁇ m, 140 to 160 ⁇ m, 200 to 220 ⁇ m, respectively, and that the time was adjusted for immersing the non-woven cloth into 96 wt% of concentrated sulfuric acid at the temperature of 100 °C by pressuring in order to make the degree of sulfonation 5 ⁇ 10 -3 .
  • the electrodes were constructed by coiling the positive electrode and negative electrode which were prepared in the said production method of the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 1 interposing a separator therebetween and the electrodes were inserted in the battery case in which the nickel is plated, whose thickness of the side wall is 0.16 mm and whose thickness at the bottom is 0.25 mm is processed into the cylindrical container with an aperture at one end. Then, 1.8 cc of about 30 wt % of KOH solution is poured into the battery case which is then sealed by the lid provided with a safety vent, thereby preparing the AA-size sealed cylindrical Ni/MH storage batteries as shown in figure 6.
  • AA-size sealed cylindrical Ni/MH storage batteries of Examples 24 to 30 were prepared by the same construction method shown in Example 23.
  • AA-size sealed cylindrical Ni/MH storage batteries of Examples 31 to 38 were prepared by the same construction method shown in Example 23 except that the separators of Examples 15 to 22 were used and the positive and negative electrodes of nearly multi-purpose thick type electrodes shown in the production method of the positive electrode 2 and production method of the negative electrode 2 were used.
  • Example 2 By taking the same method of Example 1, a separator with the degree of sulfonation of about 20 ⁇ 10 -3 and with the finalized thickness of 70 to 80 ⁇ m was obtained. For information, after drying moisture caused by rinsing, the operation to make the thickness of the separator uniform, i.e., 70 to 80 ⁇ m by passing the separator through a hot roll with the temperature of about 100 °C thereby remaking the surface flat. AA-size sealed cylindrical Ni/MH storage batteries were prepared by the same construction method shown in Example 23.
  • the separator of the present invention has a smaller degree of decrease in tensile strength even when the degree of sulfonation is enhanced.
  • the number of short circuit of the batteries is represented as (the number of cells with the microscopic short circuit observed)/ (the number of cells with the cycle life test conducted)
  • Examples 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
  • the separators of the Examples have high reliability free from microscopic short circuit up to the thickness of around 80 ⁇ m.
  • the batteries using the thin electrodes in Examples 27 to 30 that is, the batteries with a separator whose degree of sulfonation is similar to the separator for multi-purpose as already shown in e in the separator type column in Table 3, no microscopic short circuit was recognized in any thickness.
  • the batteries of f-100 showed extremely excellent high power characteristics with the voltage decrease of only 60 mV in the efficient discharge of 10C-rate.
  • all the batteries extremely reduce their voltage at the time of high discharge of about 8C-rate.
  • its high power characteristics were good maintaining not less than 1C-rate up until 6V.
  • the voltage of h-120 compared to that of g-120, in the efficient discharge of 10C-rate not less than the half of the initial voltage could be kept, which shows that by enhancing the degree of sulfonation, high power characteristics could be improved to a great deal.
  • batteries of i-150 and j-200 at the time of high rate discharge with around 8C, the voltage is extremely reduced and the voltage cannot be kept not less than 1V at the discharge rate of 6C, proving that they were not good.
  • the processing method for producing the separators of the present invention is capable of realizing high hydrophilic property while maintaining strength, and the Ni/MH batteries using the sulfonated polyolefin separators with the high degree of sulfonation of the present invention are excellent in high power characteristics.
  • separators with the thin polyolefin type resin fibers sulfonated to a high degree are capable of obtaining the Ni/MH batteries with improved important property including extremely excellent high power characteristics and high capacity.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Cell Separators (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)
  • Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)
  • Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)
EP02007258A 2001-04-06 2002-03-28 Procédé pour fabriquer un séparateur de batterie, le séparateur de batterie et batterie alcaline l'utilisant Withdrawn EP1248306A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001109082A JP2002313306A (ja) 2001-04-06 2001-04-06 電池用セパレータの製造方法、電池用セパレータ及びそれを用いたアルカリ蓄電池
JP2001109082 2001-04-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1248306A2 true EP1248306A2 (fr) 2002-10-09
EP1248306A3 EP1248306A3 (fr) 2007-04-11

Family

ID=18961090

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02007258A Withdrawn EP1248306A3 (fr) 2001-04-06 2002-03-28 Procédé pour fabriquer un séparateur de batterie, le séparateur de batterie et batterie alcaline l'utilisant

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US6994935B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP1248306A3 (fr)
JP (1) JP2002313306A (fr)
CN (1) CN1305144C (fr)
TW (1) TW511309B (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112787038A (zh) * 2021-02-20 2021-05-11 天津谦同新能源科技有限公司 一种锂离子电池纺丝隔膜的后处理方法及纺丝隔膜

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003142063A (ja) * 2001-11-07 2003-05-16 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd アルカリ蓄電池用セパレータおよびそれを用いたアルカリ蓄電池
JP4429569B2 (ja) * 2002-04-25 2010-03-10 パナソニック株式会社 ニッケル水素蓄電池
DE602004026035D1 (de) * 2003-01-23 2010-04-29 Daiwa Spinning Co Ltd Verfahren zur herstellung eines separators für eine alkali-sekundärbatterie
US6881045B2 (en) * 2003-06-19 2005-04-19 Robbins & Myers Energy Systems, L.P. Progressive cavity pump/motor
JP2005293950A (ja) * 2004-03-31 2005-10-20 Tdk Corp リチウムイオン二次電池、及び、リチウムイオン二次電池の充電方法
JP4494094B2 (ja) * 2004-06-24 2010-06-30 旭化成せんい株式会社 耐毛羽性に優れた高耐水圧ポリエステル不織布
CN100405658C (zh) * 2004-07-23 2008-07-23 日本无公害电池研究所 电池用镍极及使用该镍极的碱性蓄电池
US9096959B2 (en) * 2012-02-22 2015-08-04 Ut-Battelle, Llc Method for production of carbon nanofiber mat or carbon paper
WO2015171849A2 (fr) 2014-05-07 2015-11-12 Open Water Power, Incorporated Gestion de l'hydrogène dans des systèmes électrochimiques
CN108352483B (zh) * 2015-09-18 2022-05-24 赛尔格有限责任公司 改进的膜、压延微孔膜、电池隔板和相关方法
WO2020185543A1 (fr) 2019-03-08 2020-09-17 Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. Collimateur et dégradeur d'énergie pour système de thérapie par particules
CN109898322A (zh) * 2019-03-15 2019-06-18 天津工业大学 一种磺化非织造布及制备方法
CN110212137A (zh) * 2019-05-29 2019-09-06 常州优特科新能源科技有限公司 一种锌系碱性电池用隔膜的制备方法和应用

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0450449A2 (fr) * 1990-03-26 1991-10-09 Daiwaboseki Co., Ltd. Matériau de séparation pour accumulateurs et son procédé de préparation
US5213722A (en) * 1987-11-17 1993-05-25 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Method of making a separator material for a storage battery
US5487944A (en) * 1991-10-23 1996-01-30 Kanai Juyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. Non-woven fabric sheet separator material for storage batteries and method for making the same
JPH10101830A (ja) * 1996-08-07 1998-04-21 Mitsubishi Chem Corp ポリオレフィン系樹脂成形体の表面処理方法
JPH11297294A (ja) * 1998-04-03 1999-10-29 Toyobo Co Ltd アルカリ電池用セパレータ
EP0989619A1 (fr) * 1998-09-22 2000-03-29 Japan Vilene Company, Ltd. Séparateur pour pile alcaline
EP1085589A2 (fr) * 1999-09-14 2001-03-21 Japan Vilene Company, Ltd. Separateur pour batterie

Family Cites Families (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3847676A (en) * 1972-12-21 1974-11-12 Grace W R & Co Battery separator manufacturing process
DE2637015C2 (de) * 1976-08-17 1982-10-14 Deutsche Automobilgesellschaft Mbh, 3000 Hannover Nickeloxid-Wasserstoffzelle
DE3776300D1 (de) * 1986-12-08 1992-03-05 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Gasdichter akkumulator und verfahren zur herstellung seiner elektrode.
DE3887460T2 (de) * 1987-11-17 1994-05-26 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Separatormaterial für Speicherbatterien und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung.
DE3928468A1 (de) * 1989-08-29 1991-03-14 Grace Gmbh Blei/schwefelsaeure-akkumulator, separator fuer blei/schwefelsaeure-akkumulatoren und verfahren zur verringerung der bildung von gefaerbten ablagerungen in einem blei/schwefelsaeure-akkumulator
DE69309323T2 (de) * 1992-01-24 1997-10-30 Hitachi Maxell Wasserstoffspeicherlegierung, diese enthaltende Elektrode und Wasserstoffspeicherlegierungszelle
JPH0745283A (ja) * 1993-07-28 1995-02-14 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 電池用電極およびその製造方法
JPH08236094A (ja) * 1995-02-24 1996-09-13 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd アルカリ蓄電池用セパレータ
JP3561032B2 (ja) * 1995-03-29 2004-09-02 日本バイリーン株式会社 電池用セパレータ、その製造方法、及びこれを用いた電池
JPH097603A (ja) * 1995-06-22 1997-01-10 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 非焼結式ニッケル極とその製造法
JPH10125300A (ja) * 1996-10-24 1998-05-15 Japan Storage Battery Co Ltd アルカリ二次電池用セパレ−タ
JP3221337B2 (ja) * 1996-12-13 2001-10-22 松下電器産業株式会社 アルカリ蓄電池用セパレータ
JPH113703A (ja) * 1997-06-12 1999-01-06 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd アルカリ蓄電池用正極の製造法
JPH1167182A (ja) * 1997-08-12 1999-03-09 Tounen Tapirusu Kk アルカリ電池用セパレータ及びその製造方法
US6171708B1 (en) * 1998-02-23 2001-01-09 Japan Vilene Company, Ltd. Sulfur containing atomic group introduced porous article
JP3630992B2 (ja) * 1998-07-08 2005-03-23 松下電器産業株式会社 電池及びその電池缶の製造方法
CN1242612A (zh) * 1998-07-21 2000-01-26 松下电器产业株式会社 碱性蓄电池
JP2000164191A (ja) * 1998-09-22 2000-06-16 Japan Vilene Co Ltd アルカリ電池用セパレ―タ

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5213722A (en) * 1987-11-17 1993-05-25 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Method of making a separator material for a storage battery
EP0450449A2 (fr) * 1990-03-26 1991-10-09 Daiwaboseki Co., Ltd. Matériau de séparation pour accumulateurs et son procédé de préparation
US5487944A (en) * 1991-10-23 1996-01-30 Kanai Juyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. Non-woven fabric sheet separator material for storage batteries and method for making the same
JPH10101830A (ja) * 1996-08-07 1998-04-21 Mitsubishi Chem Corp ポリオレフィン系樹脂成形体の表面処理方法
JPH11297294A (ja) * 1998-04-03 1999-10-29 Toyobo Co Ltd アルカリ電池用セパレータ
EP0989619A1 (fr) * 1998-09-22 2000-03-29 Japan Vilene Company, Ltd. Séparateur pour pile alcaline
EP1085589A2 (fr) * 1999-09-14 2001-03-21 Japan Vilene Company, Ltd. Separateur pour batterie

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112787038A (zh) * 2021-02-20 2021-05-11 天津谦同新能源科技有限公司 一种锂离子电池纺丝隔膜的后处理方法及纺丝隔膜

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20020187400A1 (en) 2002-12-12
EP1248306A3 (fr) 2007-04-11
TW511309B (en) 2002-11-21
US6994935B2 (en) 2006-02-07
CN1380706A (zh) 2002-11-20
JP2002313306A (ja) 2002-10-25
CN1305144C (zh) 2007-03-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6994935B2 (en) Process for producing separator for batteries, the separator for batteries, and alkaline storage batteries using the same
US6783895B2 (en) Collector for alkaline secondary battery, method for making the same, and alkaline secondary battery using the same
CN101043091B (zh) 镍氢蓄电池
JP3221337B2 (ja) アルカリ蓄電池用セパレータ
JP3040041B2 (ja) アルカリ二次電池及びその製造方
JP4903959B2 (ja) 電池用集電材及びそれを用いた電池
JP2005347177A (ja) アルカリ電池
JP2014139880A (ja) アルカリ電解液二次電池用セパレータ、アルカリ電解液二次電池及びアルカリ電解液二次電池の製造方法
CN101150193A (zh) 电池电极基板和利用该电池电极基板的电极
JPH11135096A (ja) ニッケル水素二次電池
US6033803A (en) Hydrophilic electrode for an alkaline electrochemical cell, and method of manufacture
JP2917702B2 (ja) 密閉形ニッケル−水素電池
EP1022790A2 (fr) Pile alcaline et sa méthode de fabrication
JP4699686B2 (ja) 電気化学素子用集電材及びこれを用いた電池並びにこれを用いた電気二重層キャパシタ
JP4454260B2 (ja) アルカリ二次電池用セパレータ
JP4220718B2 (ja) 電池用集電材及びそれを用いた電池
EP0834939B1 (fr) Accumulateur alcaline et séparateur
US5955216A (en) Sealed alkaline storage battery
JP2734523B2 (ja) 電池用セパレータ
JP4193923B2 (ja) アルカリ蓄電池
JP3436058B2 (ja) アルカリ蓄電池
JPH07134979A (ja) 電 池
JP4443842B2 (ja) 電池とそれに用いるセパレータの製造法
JP2002367591A (ja) アルカリ電池用セパレータ
JP2001273879A (ja) ニッケル・水素二次電池

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK RO SI

AKX Designation fees paid
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20071012

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8566